It was party time for the BRCC

Marking its 64^th anniversary, the Bay Ridge Community Council (BRCC) threw a great big party, celebrating the organization’s longevity as well as two dedicated community activists.

Ridgeites Arlene Rutuelo and Zoe Koutsoupakis were presented with the organization’s coveted Civic Award at the dinner dance, held on June 4 at Sirico’s on 13^th Avenue in Dyker Heights.

Also making the evening noteworthy were the swearings-in by the Honorable Theresa Ciccotto of BRCC’s slate of officers for the 2015-2016 term.

Vincent Bocchino returned for a second year as president, with Ralph Succar taking over the post of first vice president and Janet Gounis that of second vice president. Also sworn in were Treasurer Sandy Vallas, Executive Secretary Robert Kassenbrock, Recording Secretary Joanna Succar and Corresponding Secretary Josephine Giammarino. Rounding out the slate of officers for the year to come are Historian Eileen Potter and Parliamentarian Jane Kelly.

Koutsoupakis, whose broad involvement spans such organizations as the Boy Scouts, the Guild for Exceptional Children and the Fifth Avenue BID, told the crowd that the award was theirs as much as hers. “This award belongs to all of you,” she stressed, adding, “Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

Rutuelo, whose involvement ranges from her current presidency of the Guild for Exceptional Children to her ongoing involvement with the Norwegian Day Parade and the Merchants of Third Avenue,  said that her activism reflects a deep commitment to helping others. Learning about “civic duty at an early age,” Rutuelo said that the Civic Award in particular was “special to me because it honors the things I see reflected in my life, to work for justice, help the down and out, stand up for the homeless, become the answer to someone else’s prayer.”